Four graduates receive Loyola's highest student honor

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Loyola University New Orleans honored four of its recent graduates with its highest student honor, the Ignatian Awards for Outstanding Senior and Graduate Students. The awards were formally presented at the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 10. The awards are given annually to those students who represent the university’s commitment to Ignatian values.

The 2013 award winners are:

Outstanding Ignatian Senior Woman - Carissa Marston, a biology/pre-med major from Luling, La., served as a resident assistant, awakening rector and Ignacio Volunteer in Belize. She graduated magna cum laude and will serve with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps/Northwest for a year following graduation.

Outstanding Ignatian Senior Man - Justin Romaire, a chemistry major from Harvey, La., is a four-year letter winner for the Loyola baseball team. He put his sports skills to good use when he taught baseball in Belize last winter with the Ignacio Volunteers. He graduated magna cum laude and will attend Yale University in the fall to pursue a doctorate in organic chemistry.

Outstanding Ignatian Graduate Student - Mary DePartout received her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is currently finishing her internship with Family Service of Greater New Orleans. DePartout was responsible for starting Loyola’s Active Minds chapter. The chapter organization strives to de-stigmatize mental illness on college campuses.

Outstanding Ignatian Law Student - Javier Jalice, a native of Cuba, graduated cum laude in the Loyola College of Law Civil Law Division. He worked on the College of Law’s Journal of Public Interest Law, serving his last year on the board of editors. In that role, he helped coordinate alumni and professor panels on diversity by spearheading the journal’s annual fall symposium. Jalice will work as an associate at The Kullman Firm in downtown New Orleans following graduation. (The Outstanding Law Grad award was presented at the Law Graduation Mass May 9.)

Recipients have a distinguished, pronounced involvement in the life of the university, and represent Loyola with honor and distinction. They have achieved academic excellence and critical thinking skills, and have demonstrated a commitment to faith. They also demonstrate an acceptance of Loyola’s Jesuit values and goals as well as a commitment to service with special concern for the disadvantaged.

“I am amazed and inspired by our student award winners this year. Each has a unique and compassionate story to tell,” said Kurt Bindewald, associate director of the Loyola University New Orleans Office of Mission and Ministry. “These students not only maintained a distinguished grade point average, they demonstrate devotion to service and to others.”

The selection committee for the outstanding senior man and woman student awards included: vice president of student affairs; vice president of mission and ministry; deans from all five colleges and the library; and the director of university ministry. The selection committee for outstanding graduate student is the Graduate Council, comprised of directors of each graduate program at Loyola. The law graduate was chosen by a separate committee of College of Law administrators.